DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE FOR EMPLOYEE — ROLE OF PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE FOR EMPLOYEE — ROLE OF PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

Most people have had too much to drink, at least once in their life but they often don’t realize the real danger that drinking or using drugs can present. They start, thinking they are in absolute control, only to find themselves ruled by the substances that they use. In the article, we shall take a closer look at substance abuse, its hazards it poses on people’s lives, and what we can do to prevent it.

SUBSTANCES THAT ARE OFTEN ABUSED

The term substance abuse can be the overuse of alcohol, misuse of over-the-counter medication and prescription, or the use of illegal drugs. It can also involve inhaling or huffing chemicals such as solvents lighter fluid or glue or eating magic mushrooms or other toxic plant substances that produce a high effect on how the nervous system functions.

 

1. Depressant

• Alcohol
• Marijuana
• Tranquilizers

 

Depressants such as; alcohol, marijuana, tranquilizers slow down brain activity.

 

2. STIMULANT

• Cocaine
• Crack
• Methamphetamine

 

Stimulants such as; cocaine, crack, methamphetamine speed up brain activity.

 

3. NARCOTIC ANALGESICS & PAINKILLERS

• Heroine
• Morphine
• OxyContin

 

Narcotics analgesics and painkillers such as; Heroin, Morphine, and OxyContin numb the senses.

 

4. HALLUCINOGENS

LSD(Lysergic acid diethylamide)

 

Hallucinogens such as LSD alter the way the brain processes information. Some drugs affect users in multiple ways— ecstasy is both a stimulant and a hallucinogen.

 

A substance abuser’s personality and ability to function are directly affected by the drug that they take. Cocaine and another stimulant can make people overconfident, hyperactive, and even reckless which significantly can increase the risk of them having an accident on the job. Alcohol and depressant create a dangerous sedative effect that can slow reaction time and can stop them from thinking clearly, which are potential workplace problems. Since people feel good when they are under the influence of alcohol and drugs, they often don’t recognize that they are dangerous to themselves and others.

 

Additionally, the residual effect of a substance can cause a person to have accident hours or even days after they last used it. So what a substance abuser does on their own time can still affect them and their co-worker on the job.

 

When people think of substance abuse, they often picture an addict living on the streets, but the fact is most abusers have jobs and are frequently able to conceal their problems from their employers, co-workers, and even their families. Alcohol is by far the most commonly abused of all drugs. In the United States, they over 38million binge drinkers, nearly half of all serious workplace accident are caused by people drinking on the job and 10,000 people die each year in alcohol-related automobile accidents. Impairment starts with the first drink, making it extremely dangerous to operate vehicles or machinery. If a co-worker who appears to be under the influence is attempting to drive, notify your supervisor, if you aren’t on the job, call the police.

 

However be careful— a drunk person may act irrationally, have emotional outbursts even become violent. After alcohol, the second most abused drug is marijuana. Once illegal throughout the country, marijuana has now been approved for medical and even recreational use in several states but changes in the drug’s legal status do not make it any safer than alcohol. Marijuana is a depressant that impairs short-term memory, reduces the ability to concentrate, affects coordination, and shows reaction time all of which increase the risk of accidents and injuries in the workplace. Marijuana use also has a cumulative effect that can cause long-term users to lose ambition, suffer from paranoia, and develop negative personality traces that can hurt their chances of career advancement.

 

People who smoke marijuana also often drink alcohol to increase their “high” but being doubly impaired increases their likelihood of involving in an accident. Combining drugs can also lead to an overdose for instance consuming alcohol with strong depressants such as barbiturates and tranquilizers.

 

INVESTIGATING DRUG ABUSER IN YOUR MANAGEMENT

 

If you suspect your employees of substance abuse, you may be compelled to investigate at some point.

 

Managers frequently utilize free third-party examination firms to conduct the examination. This can be a fair approach to the suspected substance mishandle among representatives within the working environment. In case the agents find the affirmed issue exists, they document the unfortunate behavior with point-by-point reports. This permits the employer to require fitting disciplinary and remedial activity and to guard themselves against most quarrelsome claims ought to any emergency, post-investigation.

 

Upon learning of potential drug issues, most employers are enticed to report the company incorporates a “zero tolerance” for drugs and liquor within the working environment. Employers ought to be mindful be that as it may that the employer’s substance abuse policy must be upgraded to reflect current rules in this range because it relates to work law.

UNDERCOVER Investigations

There are more practicable ways to approach employee substance abuse. For illustration, undercover agents can be put into the workforce subtly, mixing easily and consistently into the fabric of your claim corporate socioeconomics and culture.

 

Case the investigation is administered by your legal guide, beneath the heading and umbrella of the attorney-client benefit, the discoveries of the investigation can as a rule be protected from undesirable third-party investigation. At all times, the client and lawyer are in charge of the length and breadth of the examination, and the communication between them and the examiners ought to visit.

 

An inner examination in some cases includes drug-testing, a few utilize dogs, and a few utilize covert agents. Wall Street and other expansive enterprises started utilizing private examinations long back with the request ever-increasing. General Engines (GM) detailed substance mishandle by a few of its 472,000 representatives and their dependents cost the company $600 million in 1987. To combat the issue, GM foundations covert operations at 10 mid-western plants and said it would not falter to utilize such examinations in the future. That was then, and drug utilization within the work environment has as it was expanded.

 

Drug abuse can tarnish the image of an organization, therefore, a regular background check can also assist companies in identifying employees who are at high risk for illegal activity.